Cultural diversity
Language spoken at home
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
About this topic
Language used at home shows which languages people speak in their home life and whether English or another language is used most often. It is a key indicator of cultural diversity and language retention within communities.
This topic is useful for planning communication, multicultural services, and local engagement. It should be analysed together with proficiency in English and birthplace, because language alone does not show migration history or support needs.
Interpretation notes
- The Census records the language used most often at home, so it does not capture every language a person can speak.
- Language used at home is not a measure of English proficiency, literacy, or migration history on its own.
Key insight
In 2021, English was the most common language used at home among residents in Bayview Heights, accounting for 86.6% (3,626 people). This share was higher than Cairns (R) (76.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Italian, which decreased by 15 people and 0.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Language used at home - Ranked by size
Bayview Heights - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises language spoken at home for Bayview Heights in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Language used at home - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bayview Heights, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
English
Not stated
Japanese
Italian
Tagalog
Vietnamese
Indonesian
Mandarin
French
Greek
Chart view
Language used at home - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
English
-3
+0.4pp
Not stated
-40
-0.9pp
Japanese
+14
+0.3pp
Italian
-15
-0.3pp
Tagalog
+4
+0.1pp
Vietnamese
+12
+0.3pp
Indonesian
+7
+0.2pp
Mandarin
-1
0.0pp
French
+3
0.0pp
Greek
-11
-0.3pp
Data table
Language spoken at home for Bayview Heights. Language used at home - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| English | 3,626 | 86.6% | 76.8% | 3,629 | 86.2% | 77.7% | -3 | +0.4pp |
| Not stated | 210 | 5.0% | 9.2% | 250 | 5.9% | 9.1% | -40 | -0.9pp |
| Japanese | 46 | 1.1% | 1.4% | 32 | 0.8% | 1.5% | +14 | +0.3pp |
| Italian | 36 | 0.9% | 0.6% | 51 | 1.2% | 0.7% | -15 | -0.3pp |
| Tagalog | 21 | 0.5% | 0.5% | 17 | 0.4% | 0.5% | +4 | +0.1pp |
| Vietnamese | 20 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 8 | 0.2% | 0.2% | +12 | +0.3pp |
| Indonesian | 17 | 0.4% | 0.2% | 10 | 0.2% | 0.1% | +7 | +0.2pp |
| Mandarin | 16 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 17 | 0.4% | 0.7% | -1 | 0.0pp |
| French | 14 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 11 | 0.3% | 0.3% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Greek | 13 | 0.3% | 0.1% | 24 | 0.6% | 0.1% | -11 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 4,188 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,212 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -24 | 0.0pp |
Excludes languages spoken at home by fewer than 10 people.